Just a block west of the Malibu
Country Mart on Pacific Coast Highway is a new shopping center: the
Malibu Colony Plaza. And they're not joking about that name. This
center is within easy walking distance of the main gate of the famous Malibu
Colony, so the stars can just stroll over to pick up a few items if
they are in the mood.

In fact, during the TV news coverage of the Malibu
fires in 1994, I spotted a harried Charles Bronsoncoming out of the Ralphs Market here, his arms full of emergency
groceries. In March of 1995, newlyweds Pamela
Anderson (of "Baywatch") and Tommy
Lee (drummer for "Mötley Crüe") were caught
on video here loading bags of groceries into their car. Other celebrities
who have been spotted shopping at Ralphs include actorPierce Brosnan (our newest James Bond and former "Remington
Steele" was seen buying Halloween treats in 2002, while trying
to control his young son), singers Carole King
& Bette Midler, actors Goldie
Hawn and Martin Sheen,and in the recent past, Lloyd Bridges
and Brian Keith.

If not for its location, this could pass for a fairly
average outdoor shopping mall, but the neighborhood is what makes
it the local shopping center for the stars. Other than the Ralphs supermarket,
there's also a Blockbuster Video popular
with local celebs, a Sav-On Drug Store, a couple of banks, the Malibu Newsstand,
two local cafés, and a handful of typical shops. There's even
a Subway sandwich shop and a U.S. Post Office.

The center's most famous tenant was Wolfgang
Puck, whose restaurant, Granita,
attracted celebrities here like bees to honey. It was located right next
to the Bank of America ATM. Alas, the restaurant closed in late 2005 and
as of this writing, it's still sitting empty.

Malibu Plaza is an attractive center, boasting a
Mediterranean look, with old Spanish-tile roofs, two small fountains, and
lots of palm trees; it's a bit larger than it appears at first glance.
There is no phone number listed for the center itself, but the number for
Ralphs Market is (310) 456­2917.

Getting
there: The Malibu Colony Plaza is
located at the southwest corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Webb Way (about
a mile west of the Malibu Pier), just a block or two away from the main
gate of the Colony. Take the Santa Monica (10) Freeway west to its end,
where it becomes Pacific Coast Highway, then follow P.C.H. north (then
west) along the coastline, for about 12 miles, to Webb Way. Turn left at
Webb Way, and the center will be on your right side.

This webpage is not associated with any business
described in the article above, and does not constitute an
endorsement of this or any other business. The photos of celebrities on
this page also do not constitute
endorsements by them of any kind, and are used by the author solely to
illustrate this online article.(Click here to read
other disclaimers)